It was an unusually warm October day in Stowe, 75 F and total sunshine. It was a bit windy, even at the start. It took my climbing partner and I about 2 hours to reach the summit from the trailhead @ HWY 108 (Mountain Road). We made a dozen stops for photo ops. The summit views were outstanding in all directions. It was extremely windy though and we didn't stay long. The hike down was hard on the knees. My 2nd state highpoint.

These people don't believe in switchbacks... and I LOVE THAT!!:-) Coming from Colorado 14ers to this altitude, we were flying up this thing! It was great to not be huffing the usual:-) Fun hike- 2nd state highpoint:-)

I have been up this mountain in four consecutive summers, from 2004-2007. I have always had great weather for it. I never really appreciated the magnitude of the mountain until I came up over the forehead on the Long Trail with a 30lb pack on my back. I had always come up from the north on the LT in previous years. Did it a 5th time with my wife, brother, mom, and dad on a vacation to Vermont in 2010. Went up Sunset Ridge Trail and down Laura Cowles Trail.

We wanted an easy short hike for the kids. My partner accidently picked the subway trail (a little harder than the other trails) and it turned out to be an awesome adventure. (One mom was in sandels & a skirt, but she's tough.) The kids were **delighted** by the pristine trail and fun caves. Loved the ladder. We had a great time. Couldn't have been more fun.

The Hell Brook Trail is aptly named. A lot of scrambles on wet slabs and an unrelenting grade until you reach the ridge… and what a ridge! Mansfield is a beautiful mountain. I hope to get back to Vermont more often.

Asended from Underhill State Park via the Laura Cowles trail and returned via Sunset Ridge. This is a great loop hike and descending Sunset Ridge allowed us to better enjoy the views out toward Lake Champlain an the Adirondacks